Hello all. 99’ xj 4.0 4x4 sport.

First off it’s been a trip with this thing...so many stupid repairs but this forum helped solve damn near all them. Can’t find really anything researching this tho. Finally got to doing oil pan gasket and while in process I noticed odd leak coming from below the manifold. I’m assuming head gaskets but I don’t wanna think that yet lol freeze plugs look all good but can’t get good view of one on rear of block. Did compression test on Jeep few months back and compression was actually pretty good. All around 150-160psi. Been running the same since too. Runs pretty good especially once up to op temp. Smooth drive. Engine supposedly has 171000 somthin miles on it. No HG signs (no coolant an oil mixture). It just baffles me because I tried to think of every excuse to convince myself that it’s not coolant but what else could it be?? Valve cove it’s brand new and soild. No leak from there as far as I can tell. Please I ask you guys for input and any advice moving forward with this. Love this damn xj but my wallet startin to hate it😭 and now this haha got my head twisted. If I need to provide any more info about xj just lmk. Thank you!!

- AL

 

Looks like oil, possibly leaking from between the head and block. It wouldnt be the first to do that. Check the valve cover tho. If its leaking, the oil will run down the side of the block. Check both sides.

 

thank you for reply. Valve cover is a good place to start, I’ll retrace my steps with that one. And if it really is oil from between head and block then does that indicate bad HG?

 

FYI: See that metal tag...It usually reads" warranty void if removed"..That was added by the shop that rebuilt the engine.. It will show if the engine was overheated...

 

Damn yea I totally believe it too. I had suspicions of this engine being a rebuild

 

Is that what that "Levi Pants Looking Button" is?
I was wondering about that.

 

Yes, but I saw a 50 cal primer....LOL.

FWIW, I'll bet the back 2 bolts are loose on the valve cover.

 

Well I had Levi's on my mind cause some guy on Ebay was selling the front and rear seats from a
Levi Edition CJ that I saw this morning doing my daily stalking of Ebay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/30399309244...Condition=3000

People ask big bucks for those seats but what is even funnier is people selling just the buttons.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/11458791918...gAAOSwH-Bf4QpB

 

I remember those!!

I won't say what prompted me to see 50 cal.............